Airdrieonians 3 Dunfermline 2

Saturday, 2nd May 2015

SPFL League One: Buchanan and Hopkirk start in place of O'Kane and Byrne. Andy Geggan (33) 0-1; Jordan Morton (45) 1-1; Bob McHugh (46) 2-1; Josh Falkingham (59) 2-2; Bob McHugh (90) 3-2.

The Pars final fixture of the 2014-2015 season was away to old rivals Airdrieonians. The Diamonds had already secured fifth place in the league but for the Fifers a win could take them into sixth always assuming title favourites Morton overcame Peterhead at Cappielow. Both side had pride to play for with John Potter very keen to end what had been an extremely disappointing season on a high.

With Ryan Scully still out injured with a back injury, eighteen year old Jamie Wilson continued in goal with seventeen year old Cammy Gill the sub goalie on the bench. John Potter made two changes for his final match in charge, former Diamond Gregor Buchanan and David Hopkirk returned meaning Declan O'Kane and Shaun Byrne dropped to the bench.

Airdrieonians made one change with seventeen year old Rohan Ferguson between the sticks in place of Andrew McNeil. It was the Pars who got the match underway and Andy Geggan with the first attempt on goal but his header was wayward.

Still in the fourth minute Wilson came out strongly to make a fine save after Bob McHugh had delivered a good cut back from the left and Ross Docherty drove on target from just 12 yards out.

Hopkirk forced the first corner of the game in eighth minute but Ferguson held Josh Falkingham's inswinger from the left. Next minute a Ryan Williamson cut back picked out Falkingham on the top of the box but his drive was kept out when it hit Faissal El Bakhtaoui.

In 11 minutes Michael Moffat broke through on the left but when he slid the ball to Falkingham he was unable to direct his shot on target. Whittle sped up the left on to a through ball but again the debut keeper was able to gather.

Dunfermline kept up the pressure with Williamson supplying a couple of good crosses to concern the home defence. Then in 21 minute a Falkingham cut back for Hopkirk but Ferguson pulled off a fantastic save at full stretch to turn the ball around his right hand post.

Nice interlinking play by Hopkirk and Whittle then set up Falkingham for a shot but his effort from 25 yards cleared the bar. A short taken corner involving Falkingham and El Bakhtaoui saw the Pars captain centre for Buchanan. The header went wide right but clearly off an Airdrie man given the reaction of the Pars player to the bye kick decision.

Another Falkingham corner in 32 minutes was defended out to Graham and Buchanan's looping header was touched over by Ferguson. The visitors were to find the goal they deserved in 32 minutes and it was a simple cross in from the left by Graham that was turned in at the right upright by Andy GEGGAN. 0-1

Ferguson made a fine save from Hopkirk as the Pars pushed on but then a Falkingham foul on Scott Fraser handed Airdrieonians an opportunity from a 25 yard free kick. Former Par Paddy Boyle flighted the ball towards the far post but the defence dealt with that.

In the 44th minute a fine move was punctuated with a Geggan screamer that just cleared the crossbar but then the Fifers cruelly lost an equaliser on the stroke of half time. A Marc Fitzpatrick delivery from the right found the head of Jordan MORTON and his header found the Pars net. It was typical of the Pars season that having dominated the first 45 minutes the teams went in at the interval on level terms.

Half time: Airdrieonians 1 Dunfermline 1

Airdrieonians got off to the best of starts with a goal after only 45 seconds. A Morton cross was met by the head of Bob McHUGH and Wilson could do nothing to stop the ball finding the top left. 2-1

Alex Whittle nearly had the perfect reply breaking into the opposition box to smash a shot in but the ball careered narrowly over the top. The Fifers had the crossbar at the other end to thank when Fitzpatrick's 54th minute shot crashed on to the woodwork.

El Bakhtaoui had been kept quiet but in 59th minute he laid the ball back to Geggan on the left flank and his cross from deep to the far side of the six yard box, was smashed home by FALKINGHAM for his third goal of the season. 2-2

The Pars were unlucky not to go ahead four minutes later when Moffat's cross was tipped away from the Pars challengers in the six yard box and the referee missed Morton's push on Falkingham in the box.

As the match entered its final quarter Falkingham's cross picked out El Bakhtaoui but his header dropped wide right. Next the Pars tried to hit on the break but Moffat was offside as El Bakhtaoui hammered the ball against the left post.

Good control by the Airdrie midfield eventually found Prunty on the edge of the box and he set up McHugh for a 73rd minute shot that thankfully was blocked. Moffat then accepted a weak clearance by Luca Gasparotto but when he fed the ball right for El Bakhtaoui his partner delayed to shoot and the opportunity was gone.

Five minutes from time James Thomas replaced Michael Moffat and from an Airdrie corner the Lanarkshire side made a counter . There was no offside flag when Fraser was forward and Graham did well to get the ball away.

The match seemed to be heading for a draw when Buchanan's header was played back into the path of McHUGH and he slid the ball under the advancing Wilson. 3-2 and the 90th minute goal settled the match.

AIRDRIEONIANS: Rohan Ferguson; Jamie Bain, Luca Gasparotto, Liam Lindsay, Paddy Boyle; Jordan Morton (Jack McCue 79), Ross Docherty, Marc Fitzpatrick, Scott Fraser, Bryan Prunty (John Boyle 79), Bob McHugh.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris O'Neil, Liam Watt, Scott Stewart, Scott Gray, Jordan Roberts (GK).
SCORERS: Morton (45), McHugh (46, 90)
YELLOW CARD: Gasparotto (81)

DUNFERMLINE: Jamie Wilson; Ryan Williamson, Gregor Buchanan, Lewis Martin, Alex Whittle; Josh Falkingham (c), Finn Graham, Andy Geggan (Ryan Thomson 89), Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Michael Moffat (James Thomas 85).
SUBS NOT USED: Kyle McAusland, Allan Smith, Declan O'Kane, Shaun Byrne, Cammy Gill (GK).
SCORERS: Geggan (33), Falkingham (59)

REFEREE: George Salmond
WEATHER: Cloudy 8C
ATTENDANCE 1055

NEXT MATCH: Pre Season 2015-2016 - to be announced

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Preview Airdrieonians

Saturday, 2nd May 2015

The last match of Dunfermline Athletic's disappointing season takes them to the Excelsior Stadium to face Airdrieonians.

The Lanarkshire team has already secured fifth place but cannot catch Brechin City above them since there is a four point difference. The Pars are two places below their opponents and a win could take them to sixth dependant upon Peterhead not managing to take one point at title chasing Morton.

Stats

Airdrieonians	Dunfermline
Current League Position
5	7
League Points
55	48
Goal Difference
+13	-1
Last 6-Match Form
LWWLWW	WLDWLL
Home / Away League Record
P17, W9, D4, L4	P17, W5, D4, L8

Recent Form
Airdieonians have gone seven home games without defeat.  There last home defeat was against Peterhead back on 10th January and following their now customary weak start to a season they have lost only three matches since November.  With fifteen points from their last six league games they are joint top of the form league with Forfar and Morton.

In contrast the Pars have taken only seven points from the last eighteen available.

Recent League Form
Airdrieonians  Home				Dunfermline Away
Ayr United	W	2-0		Brechin City	L	0-3
Stenhousemuir	W	2-1		Peterhead	D	1-1
Morton	W	2-1		Stenhousemuir	W	1-0
Stirling Albion	W	4-1		Brechin City	D	1-1
Forfar Athletic	W	3-1		Stranraer	L	1-5
Brechin City	D	1-1		Forfar Athletic	L	0-1

In league meetings Dunfermline lead 39 to 37 on wins; 30 matches have been drawn.

Pars v Airdrie: The Full League Record
	P	W	D	L	F	A
At East End Park	55	24	18	13	93	83
At Airdrie	51	15	12	24	78	109
Division One (up to 1975)	42	19	6	17	83	90
Division Two (up to 1975)	12	1	3	8	24	42
Premier League (since 1975)	4	0	1	3	4	8
First Division (since 1975)	41	16	19	6	49	43
League One (since 2013)	7	3	1	3	11	9
TOTALS	106	39	30	37	171	192

Since Airdrie United came into being Dunfermline have won ten, lost six and drawn six.

Last 12 Matches v Airdrie United / Airdrieonians
Date	H/A	F-A	Competition
17/01/15	H	2-2	League One
13/12/14	A	1-3	League One
23/08/14	H	3-0	League One
05/04/14	A	0-2	League One
18/01/14	H	0-1	League One
16/11/13	A	3-0	League One
21/09/13	H	2-1	League One
04/05/13	H	1-2	Division One
09/09/13	A	3-3	Division One
12/01/13	H	1-3	Division One
25/08/12	A	2-1	Division One
01/05/10	A	1-0	Division One

Matches this season
23rd August 2014: SPFL League One: two changes for Pars, Gregor Buchanan and Chigozie Ugwu start. Ugwu (23) 1-0; Moffat (40) 2-0; Ugwu (81) 3-0
13th December 2014: SPFL League One: Bryan Prunty (3) 1-0; Nathan Blockley (55) 2-0; Marc Fitzpatrick (64) 3-0; Gregor Buchanan (84) 3-1
17th January 2015: SPFL League One: Three changes as in come Kyle McAusland, Alex Whittle and Andy Barrowman. James Lister (10) 0-1; Ross Millen (34 pen.) 1-1; Bryan Gilfillan (56) 1-2; Michael Moffat (75) 2-2

Teams last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Forfar Athletic): Jamie Wilson; Ryan Williamson, Declan O'Kane, Lewis Martin, Alex Whittle; Finn Graham, Shaun Byrne (Ryan Thomson 68), Andy Geggan, Josh Falkingham (c); Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Michael Moffat.
SUBS NOT USED: Gregor Buchanan, Kyle McAusland, Allan Smith, James Thomas, Scott Mercer, Cammy Gill (GK).

AIRDRIEONIANS (v Peterhead): Andrew McNeil; Jamie Bain, Luca Gasparotto, Lindsay,  Paddy Boyle; Jordan Morton (Liam Watt 81), Steven Docherty, Marc Fitzpatrick, Scott Fraser, Bryan Prunty, Bob McHugh.
SUBS NOT USED: Chris O'Neil, Nathan Blockley, John Boyle, Scott Stewart, Rohan Ferguson (GK).

Referee for the match will be George Salmond.

C'mon Ye Pars!

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